Scripting Episode 6

Continuing, as ever, our best-guess exploration into the scripts of Game of Thrones. Our rough Season One outline can be found HERE. Episodes 2 – 5 can be found here: Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5. As per the norm, none of these scripts are official. We’re just guessing our asses off (and wish-listing a little). Episode 6 encompasses pages 384 – 443 of “A Game of Thrones” (U.S. softcover).

EPISODE SIX

21 scenes; 57 pages

½ of TYRION 5
DAENERYS 4
EDDARD 10
½ of TYRION 5
BRAN 5
CATELYN 7

This episode will actually be penned by the worthy Jane Espenson, scribe of such shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Dollhouse, and Caprica. Espenson made a name for herself writing fan-favorite scripts (and has picked up a few awards for herself in the process), and we hope her streak of awesomesauciness continues in Game of Thrones. Please note the script outline below is not her script.

Spoilers, as ever, abound.

Episode 6 has more intrigue than action, but there is still enough to keep the episode badass. Tyrion takes some abuse at the hand of Mord the gaoler, Dany smacks Viserys across the face with a medallion belt, Robert “honors” Cersei, and an attempt to rob Bran fails in a violently spectacular way. Episode 6 ends strong with Bronn’s inexorable defeat and killing of Ser Vardis Egen.

Introductions: Mord, Osha, Stiv, Hali, Ser Albar Royce, Ser Lyn Corbray, Lord Eon Hunter, and Lady Anya Waynwood (also Ser Arthur Dayne, Brandon Stark, a younger Petyr Baelish, a younger Catelyn Tully, and a younger Lysa Tully are seen in flashbacks)

Deaths: Stiv, Hali, two other wildling men, Ser Vardis Egen

Sex: None. Dany takes a bath though.

INT. THE EYRIE – SKY CELL – DAY [quarter page]

Tyrion awakens, beaten and bloodied. He’s disoriented, squinting against an impossibly bright light. In flashes he remembers what happened to him…

FLASHBACK TO:

INT. THE EYRIE – THRONE ROOM – DAY [2 pages]

Tyrion is brought before Lysa and Robert Arryn as Catelyn looks on. Lysa not only accuses him of the attack on Bran, but also of the murder of Jon Arryn. Rather than beg, Tyrion implies his family will assault the Eyrie if any harm should come to him. Little Robert boasts the Eyrie is impregnable, but Tyrion mocks him and the Eyrie. A furious Lysa has him dragged off.

BACK TO PRESENT:

INT. THE EYRIE – SKY CELL – DAY [half page]

Tyrion is helped to his feet— by the gaoler MORD. “Not done with you yet,” Mord mutters, throwing Tyrion against the wall. Mord beats Tyrion mercilessly. A vicious kick sends Tyrion spinning across the floor … and coming dangerously close to plummeting off the edge of:

EXT. THE EYRIE – SKY CELLS – DAY [quarter page]

Establishing shot, pulling back and away from the white honeycomb of prison cells. Sucks to be Tyrion.

OPENING CREDIT SEQUENCE [1 page]

EXT. VAES DOTHRAK – HORSE GATES – DUSK [1.5 pages]

Khal Drogo rides into the Dothraki “city” of VAES DOTHRAK followed by his bloodriders (Qotho, Haggo, and Cohollo) and the rest of his khalasar. Daenerys rides with him, accompanied by Ser Jorah and Viserys.

EXT. VAES DOTHRAK – WESTERN MARKET – NIGHT [3.5 pages]

Khal Drogo and his khalasar ride the winding path through the odd collection of different buildings. Dany is impressed by all the ancient monuments, but Viserys scoffs at the “trash of dead cities.” Viserys rides off. Daenerys and Ser Jorah are left behind with Dany’s servants as Drogo leaves to ascend the Mother of Mountains in order to make a sacrifice to the gods. Dany asks Jorah of the odds that ten thousand Dothraki might actually be able to conquer Westeros. Jorah says Viserys could not lead them (“Viserys could not sweep a stable with ten thousand brooms”), but perhaps someone else could. Jorah admits Robert Baratheon might actually be fool enough to meet the Dothraki in the open field. Jorah also confesses his hatred for Eddard Stark, “He took from me all I loved, for the sake of his precious honor.”

INT. VAES DOTHRAK – HOLLOW HILL – NIGHT [4 pages]

Dany is bathed by her handmaidens. After, she asks Doreah to invite her brother to dine with her so she can give him gifts. But when Viserys arrives he is furious at being “summoned” and spurns Dany’s gifts. Viserys grabs Dany roughly by the arm; she responds by hitting him across the face with a bronze belt. Viserys leaves bleeding. Dany, saddened, curls up to sleep with a dragon egg.

EXT. TOWER OF JOY – DAWN [DREAM SEQUENCE] [1 page]

Ned leads an assault on the old TOWER OF JOY, swathed in fog, seven against three. “And now it begins,” SER ARTHUR DAYNE says as he draws his greatsword Dawn. Ned replies sadly, “No, now it ends.” Somewhere Lyanna screams Ned’s name, and blue rose petals blow across a blood-streaked sky. “I promise,” Ned answers her.

INT. TOWER OF THE HAND – NED’S CHAMBERS – DAWN [6 pages]

Ned is awakened by Vayon Poole, who informs him that King Robert has requested his presence. Ned tells Vayon his broken leg will not allow him to walk as yet, but he will receive Robert in his chambers. Moments later, Robert enters with Cersei in tow, demanding hostilities cease between the Starks and Lannisters. Cersei is her usual charming self and Robert cuffs her to silence her. Cersei says she will wear the bruise as a badge of honor; “Wear it in silence, or I’ll honor you again,” retorts Robert. Cersei leaves, and Robert admits his regret that he could not marry Lyanna instead. “Rhaegar won, damn him. I killed him and yet he still won. He has Lyanna and I have her.” Robert rises to leave, tossing Ned his silver Hand clasp. He tells Ned he is the Hand again whether he likes it or not, and forbids him from leaving the city.

INT. THE EYRIE – SKY CELL – DAY [2 pages]

Tyrion stops another beating at the hands of Mord with the promise of Lannister gold (“A Lannister always pays his debts”), asking only for a message to be delivered to Lady Lysa. Tyrion says he is ready to confess.

INT. THE EYRIE – SKY CELL – NIGHT [half page]

Tyrion is awakened by Ser Vardis Egen to be taken to Lysa.

INT. THE EYRIE – THRONE ROOM – NIGHT [7 pages]

Lysa Arryn has gathered many lords and ladies to hear Tyrion’s confession, including Lord Nestor Royce and his heir SER ALBAR ROYCE; also introduced are SER LYN CORBRAY, LORD EON HUNTER, and LADY ANYA WAYNWOOD and her sons. Catelyn is here, as well as Ser Rodrik and Ser Willis Wode, the Blackfish, Marillion, and Bronn. Tyrion confesses that he has indeed led a wicked life–- but he denies having anything to do with any murders, successful or not. Tyrion demands a trial by combat and Bronn steps up; “I’ll stand for the dwarf.”

EXT. WINTERFELL – GATEHOUSE – DAY [1.5 pages]

Bran rides out the front gate under the supervision of Robb, testing his new saddle on Dancer, his horse. Accompanying them are Theon Greyjoy, Maester Luwin, and a handful of guards. The direwolves Summer and Gray Wind follow.

EXT. WINTER TOWN – DAY [half page]

Bran and his entourage ride through the half-empty WINTER TOWN. Theon flirts with a girl in passing outside an alehouse.

EXT. THE KINGSROAD – CONTINUOUS [2.5 pages]

Still riding, Robb hesitantly tells Bran of a raven’s message that had come earlier: of the attack on their father, his broken leg, and the deaths of Jory and the others. Bran is shocked and saddened. Theon says Robb should call the banners for war; “Blood for blood.”

EXT. THE WOLFSWOOD – DAY [8 pages]

Bran and Robb outdistance the others while trying to keep up with Summer and Gray Wind. Hearing the wolves howl in the distance, Robb crosses a stream to go seek them out, telling Bran to wait for him. Bran is left alone for a span of time … until the unexpected arrival of a band of wildlings: OSHA, STIV, HALI, and two other men. The wildlings attempt to rob Bran of his horse, and Stiv cuts his leg with a knife. Robb returns just then with the wolves, and a quick fight follows. Hali and the two other wildling men are killed by the wolves; Stiv tries to take Bran captive but Theon arrives and kills him with an arrow through the back. Robb is angry rather than grateful, furious that Theon risked Bran’s life. They take Osha captive.

INT. THE EYRIE – CATELYN’S ROOMS – DAWN [3 pages]

Catelyn speaks with Ser Rodrik; they talk of their plans after Tyrion’s trial, and of the Lannisters’ preparations for war. She is angry that the trial is happening at all.

INT. THE EYRIE – LYSA’S APARTMENTS – DAWN [2 pages]

The Blackfish storms out of Lysa’s room as Catelyn enters, furious. Lysa has forbidden him from taking a thousand men west to aid Riverrun in the event Casterly Rock attacks, so he has decided to go alone. Catelyn convinces him to wait until after the trial and join her and Ser Rodrik.

EXT. THE EYRIE – LYSA’S GARDEN – CONTINUOUS [4 pages]

Lysa entertains her various suitors while waiting for the trial by combat to begin; young Lord Robert sits on a high chair overlooking it all. Catelyn tries to talk her sister away from this course, but Lysa will hear nothing of it. Catelyn recalls the first duel she ever witnessed:

FLASHBACK TO:

EXT. RIVERRUN – LOWER BAILEY – DAY [2 pages]

A TEENAGED CATELYN TULLY watches as her betrothed, BRANDON STARK, duels TEENAGED PETYR BAELISH. A TEENAGED LYSA TULLY looks on fearfully. Brandon wins easily but spares Petyr a killing blow, keeping his vow to Catelyn. Petyr calls out Catelyn’s name before falling.

BACK TO PRESENT:

EXT. THE EYRIE – LYSA’S GARDEN – DAWN [4 pages]

The duel finally begins, with Bronn squaring off against Lysa’s champion, Ser Vardis Egen. To the dismay of most, Bronn wins, defeating and killing the older, slower Ser Vardis. Tyrion is freed.

• Published on 07/04/2010 at 8:33 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/20/2016 at 5:14 PM CDT